How a Violin is MadeVarnishing, assembly, and then some

The white violin

Once the top plate, bottom plate, side plate, and neck have been shaped and assembled, you have a white violin. Now it is ready to move on to the varnishing and assembly process.

A white violin before the neck is attached

Repeated varnishing, drying, and polishing

This process is sensitive to dust, so the varnishing space has controlled air flow that ensures the air flows smoothly only from the top to the bottom of the room to keep the room clean. First the wood is treated with a filler to prevent the varnish from being absorbed, and then a colored varnish is applied in several layers. Each time, the varnish is allowed to dry and is polished to give it a lustrous shine.

Polishing between applications of varnish

Install the sound post, and it is complete!

Next we move to the assembly process. The fingerboard and nut are attached first, and the bridge is put into place while the strings are being attached. The sound post is then installed, completing the assembly.

The bridge is installed while stringing the violin.

Installing the sound post through the f-hole

Using a special tool designed for this purpose, the sound post is installed through the f-hole. The sound post is not just sandwiched between the top plate and bottom plate. It must be installed in the proper position and be perfectly perpendicular to the plates, and it must also be positioned properly in relation to the bridge. In some cases, the sound post is tapped, and the resulting sound indicates whether it has moved or not.

Ways to make a new violin sound better

The sound of a violin gets better the more it is played. Routine seasonal changes also help to remove new instrument distortions. Speeding this aging process along is the objective of Yamaha's Initial Response Technology. Through this technology, even a new instrument can produce a richer resonance without noise. This technology works by applying a vibration to the bridge and tailpiece of an instrument, which produces exactly the same effect as playing the instrument with a bow for a long time.